Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ( MUFG ) has partnered with the Global Finance & Technology Network ( GFTN ) to strengthen youth digital skills, innovation capabilities, and career pathways in India, beginning in the state of Odisha, while exploring wider collaboration with key stakeholders across Asia.

In a memorandum of understanding signed by GFTN group chief executive Sopnendu Mohanty and MUFG Asia-Pacific CEO Nobuya Kawasaki, the two organizations committed to advancing digital-finance education, capacity-building, and employment opportunities for young professionals across India and other emerging markets.

The partnership will combine GFTN’s global ecosystem of financial institutions, policymakers, and innovators with MUFG’s commitment to social impact, financial education, and youth empowerment to nurture the next generation of fintech talent.

The partnership kicks off in Odisha, where MUFG will serve as the “BharatNetra Champion”, supporting the local government’s mission to develop Bhubaneswar into a global hub for fintech and insurtech innovation.

At the heart of this collaboration is the Certificate in FinTech and InsurTech ( CFI ), an 86-hour hybrid programme delivered by the Asian Institute of Digital Finance ( AIDF ) at the National University of Singapore ( NUS ). The programme aims to upskill 7,000 students by 2030, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to participate confidently in the digital economy and strengthening digital-finance capabilities across the state.

MUFG’s support will help connect classroom learning to real-world careers through industry-led challenges co-designed with MUFG leaders, mentorship opportunities, and direct access to employers.

Building on the success of the India launch, MUFG and GFTN will explore extending this partnership to key markets in the region, beginning with the Philippines and Indonesia. This next phase will include stakeholder mapping and partnerships with key players in the ecosystem.